Buying a new car will probably be one of the biggest financial commitments you will make in your life. But there are many things you can do to lessen the financial impact and get the car you want at a price that will make you smile.

1) Before you start taking cars for test drives, give some thought to how you will finance your new vehicle. Automobile dealers will try and get you to use their financing plans, but these may not be the cheapest way to finance your new car. Shop around for the best financing deal.

2) Pay as much as you can up front as a down payment. The more you pay upfront the less you will have to borrow. The more you pay as a down payment then the less interest you will need to pay back each month.

3) Find a co-signer if you have a bad credit score. If you have a bad credit rating you will run into problems when looking for car finance. You may find a source of cost effective bad credit car loans but another option is to get someone with a good credit rating to act as a co-signer in your application.

4) Get the most you can for your old vehicle. Trade-ins can be a good option, saving you the headache of advertising and selling your car. Whatever you do, make certain you get the most you can for your old vehicle by thoroughly cleaning it, gathering together the service records and making certain that it is running reliably.

5) Shop around, haggle and consider alternative financing options. The recession has hit the automobile industry very hard so there are bargains to be had. Garages want your business so this can be used to your advantage. And be sure to consider alternative financing solutions. Car leasing is a great way to get the car that you want for a reasonable down payment and affordable monthly repayments. If you are looking for a commercial vehicle you might want to consider van contract hire to provide your business with what the transport you need.

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